 I live
in Naigaon, which is right next to the Ulhas river. The river flows between Mumbai and
Thane districts. I have enjoyed great peace of mind here and had the opportunity to watch
birds and mangroves flourishing from my window. However it pains me to see people throwing
out plastic bags from trains. I have counted and found passengers throwing upto 15 plastic
bags out of the windows even as the train passes my house. Isn't there something we can do
to prevent this from happening? Like going to the railway authorities and asking them to
put up notices or something like that? In my profession as a seafarer, garbage disposal is
governed by the International Marpol (Marine Pollution Regulations) regulations. We could
be fined upto $10,000 for the disposal of even 1 plastic bag into the ocean!!!Keith d'Silva
Via email
CHOKE-A-COLA
After the issue of pesticides in soft drinks,
Rishi Valley School students came out with the following poem: To my Blackhearted Friend
Coke & Pepsi, Mirinda & Cool Blue, 7 Up and Thums Up Drinks with a fizz Gives a
high that many aspire to. Cocaine and Caffeine, Yellow 5s and Saccharin Stimulate,
titillate and activate. A Coleridge or a Wilde in an Opium haze Would cry for their Cola
fix. Insulin receptors stimulated Fat cells cry in glee Sugars oh so sweet and the excess
Yummy dripping fat. The stomach groans Joints creak The eyes are deceived When, did I last
see my toes? Kidneys pore out woes Bones disappear Pain in the joints and Back Ha! The
Kidneys now produce stones. Teeth stain, Enamel withers Cavities appear, Sparkling smiles
now stilled. Dentists rub hands in glee What Ho! Let's drill for gold. Cola factories
sprout Villages run dry Fertilisers turn toxic The Ground – saline. The food we eat
Has pesticides to kill Cancers arise Men – Ah Men! Doctors say – Stop now Before
you turn prematurely grey Spirits droop – then the rousing Jingle Yeh Dil Maange
More!!!!
Dr Kartik Kalyanram, MD Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh
KAZIMUDDIN AHMED / CSE |
We have established a
NGO entitled "Green Thought of Earth" in Karaj, the second most populated city
of Iran. This is the only NGO of the city. One of our goals is environmental education for
children and as a first step, we've intended have a training course to preschool and
primary students.
Rasoul Omid
Director of Green Thought of Earth
Email: greenthoughtn@yahoo.com
These days pollution
is growing rapidly. I want to help the Earth become a better place to live in and make it
greener and healthier for everyone. So, every year I make it a point to plant a tree on my
birthday.
Deepshree Sharma
Via email
We have a club
in our area called the Panchsheel club, which has a very good system of managing garbage.
The club collects garbage from all the houses in the colony. They divide this into waste
that is biodegradable and that which is not. There is a vermicomposting pit in the club
grounds itself in which the biodegradable waste is put and manure is produced from that.
Then this manure is distributed to all the residents. So we use manure in our gardens that
is got from our own household garbage!
Kanika Bali
New Delhi
GT replies: Vermicomposting
(worm composting) is a good way of getting rid of biodegradable waste. Millions of tons of
food waste is buried or burned each year all over the world at a great financial and
environmental cost. Instead of discarding your food scraps, you can recycle them with the
help of worms. Vermicomposting turns many types of kitchen waste into nutritious soil for
plants. When worm compost is added to the soil, it boosts the nutrients available to
plants and enhances soil structure and |
